Philip Seymour Hoffman, 'Synecdoche, New York'

Philip Seymour Hoffman, 'Synecdoche, New York'

Abbot Gensler / Sony Pictures Classics

Acting in a Charlie Kaufman scripted film has proven to be a surefire way to nab at least an Oscar nod  it worked for Catherine Keener ("Being John Malkovich"); Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and winner Chris Cooper ("Adaptation"); and Kate Winslet ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"). But playing a man losing his grip on reality is a surefire way actually to win an Oscar -- be it on the grand scale of Daniel Day-Lewis (" There Will Be Blood") or in a more mundane manner like Jack Lemmon ("Save the Tiger"). In "Synecdoche, New York," Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, 41, is surrounded by Oscar-nominated talent (Keener, Samantha Morton, Emily Watson and Michelle Williams) in this first film helmed by Kaufman.

Acting in a Charlie Kaufman scripted film has proven to be a surefire way to nab at least an Oscar nod  it worked for Catherine Keener ("Being John Malkovich"); Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and winner Chris Cooper ("Adaptation"); and Kate Winslet ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"). But playing a man losing his grip on reality is a surefire way actually to win an Oscar -- be it on the grand scale of Daniel Day-Lewis (" There Will Be Blood") or in a more mundane manner like Jack Lemmon ("Save the Tiger"). In "Synecdoche, New York," Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, 41, is surrounded by Oscar-nominated talent (Keener, Samantha Morton, Emily Watson and Michelle Williams) in this first film helmed by Kaufman. (Abbot Gensler / Sony Pictures Classics)

Acting in a Charlie Kaufman scripted film has proven to be a surefire way to nab at least an Oscar nod  it worked for Catherine Keener ("Being John Malkovich"); Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and winner Chris Cooper ("Adaptation"); and Kate Winslet ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"). But playing a man losing his grip on reality is a surefire way actually to win an Oscar -- be it on the grand scale of Daniel Day-Lewis (" There Will Be Blood") or in a more mundane manner like Jack Lemmon ("Save the Tiger"). In "Synecdoche, New York," Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, 41, is surrounded by Oscar-nominated talent (Keener, Samantha Morton, Emily Watson and Michelle Williams) in this first film helmed by Kaufman.